A group of prominent chefs and restaurateurs across the country are using wine to raise money for California’s wine country, which was devastated by wild fires last month.
Daniel Boulud, Sean Brock, Suzanne Goin and Danny Meyer are among the restaurant operators that have joined with OpenTable in promoting the program “Let’s Raise the Glass,” a national campaign launched Monday that is scheduled to run through the end of December.
Participants have pledged to donate a portion of the sale of any California wine to the Let’s Raise the Glass Fund. Proceeds will benefit the Sonoma Resilience Fund and the Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund.
All restaurants are invited to participate and can sign up at LetsRaisetheGlass.com.
The program was inspired by Charleston Grill sommelier Rick Rubel and general manager Mickey Bakst.
“Throughout my career, the wineries have always been there to help us with our charitable efforts,” said Bakst in a statement. “Now it’s time for the restaurant community to step up and support the industry that is so essential to our business.”
OpenTable will also be promoting the effort to its network across more than 43,000 restaurants.
Meanwhile, restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area and across the country are also teaming up for the week-long ChefsGiving fundraising program this week.
From Monday through Nov. 19, restaurants have pledged to donate a portion of proceeds to funds that will support temporary and long-term housing for residents of wine country displaced by the fires. The goal is to raise at least $1 million. Participants can sign up at chefsgiving.org.
Efforts vary. El Paseo in Mill Valley, Calif., for example, is donating 10 percent of all sales on Nov. 14 to ChefsGiving. Poggio in Sausalito, Calif. is donating $10 from the sale of each truffle dish all week. Seven Pacific Catch locations are donating 10 percent of sales from seasonal “East Coast Classics, West Coast Style” menu items during the week.
The event will culminate with a gala at San Francisco’s Ferry Building on Nov. 19 with tickets ranging from $125 to $195.
Funds raised will be donated to the Tipping Point Emergency Relief Fund and Restaurants Care.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter: @livetodineout
